LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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SPORTING, EXHIBITION, AND MILITARY. 



PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 

San Francisco, 1880. 



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PREFACE. 



My object in publishing this little book is to explain a 
method of teaching Snap Shooting, by using the rifle in 
practice, which, by its economy, ease, quickness, and 
fascination, will recommend itself to any who are desirous 
of becoming skillful in the use of firearms. 

It is true that by this method almost any one can make 
himself a good snap shot in a few weeks or months, ac- 
cording to the amount of practice indulged in, and that too 
at very small cost. 

I make no claim for it, except that having received the 
original idea from Dr. Carver, I have demonstrated for 
myself and seen several friends demonstrate its practica- 
bility beyond a doubt. 

I submit it for what it may be worth. 

Horace Fletcher,, 



SNAP SHOOTING DEFINED. 



Snap shooting is the throwing of both the rear and front sights 
of a gun into line between the eye and the target and pulling the 
trigger, all in one motion, and is distinguished by that name from 
any shooting where the aim is leisurely taken, by bringing the 
piece to the shoulder, getting the sights in line, hunting the tar- 
get and pulling the trigger when the aim is most steady. 

ANOTHER MUNITION. 

In snap shooting, the eye catches the target, and the attention 
is riveted on it, while the piece comes into line instinctively. 

In other shooting, the attention is turned from the target to 
the gun and sights, and after getting them in line, is returned to 
the target. 

The practice of snap shooting does not interfere with aiming at 
leisure, but aiming at leisure unfits one for snap shooting. 

When the face is in danger, the hand comes before it instinc- 
tively to protect it; and in the same manner when a target ap- 
pears the gun should as instinctively and quickly find it place 
in line between it and the eyes. 

This is necessary to the perfect snap shot. 



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RULES OF SAFETY. 



The following rules of safety should never be disre- 
garded : 

1 . On taking a firearm in your hands, see for yourself if it 

be loaded or not, and never take any one's word for it. 

2. Keep the muzzle of a loaded gun above the level of the 

eye, and hold a pistol at a corresponding angle. 

3. Handle all firearms as if loaded. 



Note. — The Numbers scattered through " The Outfit," 
and " Rules of Practice" refer to paragraphs further on, 
correspondingly numbered, which are explanatory of terms 
used, and give the reasons for the suggestions offered. 

This plan relieves the pith of the book from any confusing 
element. 



THE OUTFIT. 



Three 1 persons purchase a .22 3 calibre rifle, 2 having a 
shot-gun 4 stock, and buck-horn 5 or clover-leaf rear sight, 
a supply of short cartridges, 6 and a Fletcher bell-ball. 7 

The place for practice should be open 8 ground, or in 
front of a bulkhead, 9 at least twenty-five feet in height, 
and three soft pine boards in thickness. 



RULES FOR PRACTICE. 



1. Each should take his turn in the positions of Firer, 
Tosser, and Scorer. 10 

2. The Tossee should stand ten 11 feet distant from the 
Firer, with his side 12 to him, and toss the bell-ball about 
fifteen 1 ' 1 feet high, and so that it will fall on soft ground, 15 
two or three 14 feet in front of where he (the Tosser) ia 
standing. 

3. The Firer should disencumber his shoulders of any- 
thing that in any way interferes with their free action, by- 
removing his coat, vest and suspenders, and stand firmly 16 



8 SNAP SHOOTING. 

on his feet, holding the rifle with the stock below his 
right 17 elbow, the muzzle above the level of the eye, 18 
and his left hand clasping the barrel as far out 19 as it can 
reach with ease when the rifle is brought to the shoulder 
in aiming. 

4. The instant 20 the ball is tossed, the rifle should be 
brought to the shoulder with as quick a motion as possible, 
regardless of the speed the bell seems to have. 

5 . When the bell has reached its greatest 21 elevation, 
just see it full 22 over the line of both 23 sights and pull the 
trigger. 2i 

6. The rifle should not be allowed to get 25 foul, but 
cleaned before any burned powder has accumulated in the 
grooves. 26 

7. Practice at balls thrown straight 27 up to a uniform 
height should continue till tolerable proficiency, say the 
average hitting of 80 per cent., has been attained, when 
the direction should be changed gradually to that of a 
curve, which lengthened out sufficiently constitutes the 
Cross-shot. 28 

8. The Drop-shot is the following of a bell, from its 
summit down to within one or two 29 feet of the ground 
and hitting it there. 

9. The Incoming-shot 30 is at a ball thrown at the firer 
from a distance of say 50 feet, and is the easiest of all; 
but unless thrown so as to go above his head, and caught 
by him in passing over, is not recommended, owing to the 
danger to the tosser. If a trap be used it is safe and good 
practice. 

10. o The Trap-shot is the most difficult, requires the 
quickest 01 action, and is consequently the very best prac- 



SNAP SHOOTING. 9 

tice, and is the hitting of balls thrown straight away from 
the firer by- a spring-trap, or by hand, so that they fall not 
more than twenty-five feet distant. 

11. The above are the cardinal directions, but any 
variety of shots can be made at will after these have been 
mastered. 

12. Shooting at a bell-ball, suspended by a wire or 
cord, which can be done indoors, is excellent practice. 
The bell is made to swing, and as each hit gives* it a new 
motion a variety of shots can be tried. 

13. Balls only Z2 should be used as flying targets, for the 
reason that a bullet may pass very near the center of an 
irregularly-shaped object, and not hit it, the miss convey- 
ing an erroneous impression of the aim. 

14. Quickness 31 of action is most important in snap 
shooting, not only in firing but in loading. 

15. Reload your piece immediately after discharging it, 
and be ready to fire again. That you may accustom your- 
self to be quick in all your movements, try how many 33 
times you can fire, reload, and hit a bell-ball thrown up 
perpendicularly in a given time, say one or two minutes. 

Note. — 100 consecutive misses at first will not indicate an 
inability to learn to hit. Perseverance and attention to the 
suggestions here given will make one a good snap shot in less 
time than may at first seem possible. 



10 SNAP SHOOTING. 



EXPLANATION. 



1. Economy facilitates practice by removing the dread 
of expense which takes the keen edge off of any sport and 
discourages it. 

The expense of an outfit, consisting of a rifle, one thou- 
sand cartridges, and a bell-ball is less than twenty-five 
dollars, which divided between three persons is very light. 

Three persons can work together to advantage by taking 
the positions of firer, tosser and scorer, and benefit by 
friendly competition. 

2. The rifle should be the elementary arm used in prac- 
tice, and be handled with success on all the shots before 
the shotgun is taken up. 

True impressions only should be given the learner, 
which the rifle does, and the shotgun does not, give. 

Occasionally, the scattering of shot may allow an object 
to drop without being hit, when the gun has been held 
right on it, and again, a stray shot may hit, when the aim 
has been high, low, or to one side, in both of which cases 
the impressions given the firer are erroneous. 

With the rifle this cannot occur, and every time one 
makes a hit he has received a true impression of the posi- 
tion the sights should hold relative to the bell. 

3. Rifles of . 22 calibre are the best to use in practice, 
for several reasons : 

1. The expense of shooting them is very light, owing to 
the low cost of the cartridges. 

2. Because there is no perceptible recoil, which is an 
important consideration, inasmuch as the flinching which a 



SNAP SHOOTING. 11 

beginner does involuntarily, if he stand beliind a kicking 
rifle at first,. is very hard to overcome; but which he avoids 
when he has learned to hold his gun firm against his 
shoulder and to brace against it. 

3. The rifle does not heat quickly, and in cool weather 
can be fired one hundred times without becoming hot. 
The reasons for this are the thickness of the barrel, and 
the small quantity of powder burned in each cartridge. 

4. It has a light report, scarcely louder than the crack- 
ing of a whip, and can be used anywhere without being a 
nuisance on that account. In hunting birds or squirrels 
in a wood, this advantage is considerable, because the re- 
port does not frighten the game any more than the break- 
ing of a twig, and one can move about within a limited 
space, shooting many times at the same game, if not success- 
ful in hitting it at first, whereas a noisy gun would clear the 
neighborhood after each discharge. 

5. These rifles are a desirable weight, being not lighter 
than about seven pounds, and shoot accurately at ranges 
of two hundred and three hundred yards. It is true that 
light bullets are more easily affected by the wind than 
heavy, but the ranges are generally less than one hundred 
yards, and in any case it is easy to make allowance. 

4. It used to be the fashion to make rifle stocks with 
projecting points to fit around the shoulder, which was all 
right for target practice, but in snap shooting there should 
be nothing to catch the sleeve, and consequently the shot- 
gun stock is recommended. 

In case your rifle has the points, have the upper one, at 
least, cut off. 

The lower one is no objection, if the stock has sufficient 
drop for your length of neck, but if it has not, the catch- 



SNAP SHOOTING. 



ing at the shoulder will necessitate your ducking your head, 
which is awkward and detrimental to rapid work. 

5. The Buckhorn and Clover Leaf rear sights are 
shaped as their names would ndicate, and the front sight 
can be brought down into them quicker and easier than 
into others, and there is less danger of canting the rifle 
to one side. The buckhorn is preferable to the clover leaf, 
and both are infinitely better than the flat sight, which 
has only a niche in it. Any gunsmith can change the 
sights to suit, or you can put them in yourself if you have 
them. 

In shooting point blank at a given distance, with fine 
sights, if the rifle shoot low, file off the front sight, which 
is equivalent to giving elevation to the bore. 

6 . Short Cartridges are preferable, because they hold 
quite as much powder as will burn in the rifle, cost less 
than the long, are even more accurate, make less report, 
and principally because the Fletcher Bell Ball is not 
made to resist a heavier charge. 

7 . The Fletcher Bell Ball is a metal ball, made up 
of two hemisiDherical gongs, joined by a post of the same 
metal, all cast in one piece, and is about two inches in 
diameter. 

A space between the gongs allows perfect vibration, and 
being all one piece it rings distinctly, no matter where hit, 
so that it can be heard several hundred yards. 

It is practically indestructible and can be hit thousands 
of times without being destroyed. 

John Ruth of Oakland, California, in an exhibition at 
Badger's park, in the summer of 1879, hit one nine hundred 
and ninety times out of one thousand shots fired, leaving 
it in good condition for further use. 



SNAP SHOOTING. 13 

Its advantages over glass balls are : 

1. It is inexpensive. 

2. It can be carried in the pocket. 

3. It avoids broken glass in the fields. 

4. It is a perfect indicator of hits, telling by its sound if 
hit in the dead center, or is only touched. 

5. It is a new principle in bells, and has greater reso- 
nance than others of the same metal, because the sound 
passes through the post from the gong which has been 
hit to the other and is repeated there. 

This bell ball was patented August 6, 1878; and for snap 
shot rifle practice, and as a swinging target in shooting 
galleries, is very useful and economical. 

8. Inasmuch as the bullets are projected high in air in 
nearly all the shots recommended, and are quite light, 
when they are spent they are harmless, so that long range 
ie not necessary; but it must be kept in mind, however, 
that they are projected with much force, and at two hun- 
dred or three hundred yards even, have considerable pene- 
tration, and great care should be taken in giving them 
direction. 

9. A Bulkhead to resist short cartridges should be, at 
least, three soft pine boards in thickness. 

10. The keeping of Scores during practice to show the 
progress made by each, is beneficial. At first an occasional 
hit will seem like good shooting, while later an occasional 
miss will seem to make a bad average, owing to the ad- 
vanced ideas of the firer, but the scores will determine the 
true progress. There will be times when the learner will 
shoot easily and well, and others when he may find it very 
hard, but practice can develop a skill which will be able 
to overcome the influence of shaky nerves. 



U SNAP SHOOTING. 

11. The near distance of ten feet is the best range at 
first because the object is to hit as easily as possible, but 
later, as proficiency is acquired, the tosser may retire till 
ten yards is reached, which is far enough for all practical 
purposes. 

12. If the tosser stand with his face to the firer he is apt 
to divert his attention from the ball, which is in part 
avoided by turning his side, and is also the proper position 
for the delivery of the drop and other shots. 

13. Fifteen feet of elevation is sufficient, a higher ball 
being really easier to hit, because the firer is more under it. 

14. The ball thrown perpendicularly is of course the 
easiest to hit, but if it fall in front of the tosser two or 
three feet, the firer is less liable to be disturbed. 

15. The metal of the bell being somewhat brittle, if it 
happen to fall on a stone or very hard ground in a certain 
position it will break the post and disable it. 

If it fall into mud and fill, or partially fill with it, the 
sound will be very much deadened. 

16. The free use of the shoulders is necessary, and a 
shooting suit, consisting of loose shirt, and pants which 
fit the hips closely, made of dark blue flannel to avoid the 
powder stains showing too plainly, is recommended. 

Twenty or thirty cartridges can be carried in the hollow 
of the left hand, which holds the barrel, and can be got at 
easily in reloading; but if they interfere with the holding 
of the rifle, it is better to use a pouch or open-mouthed 
bag suspended in front of the waist. 

It may seem trivial to mention nice points of position, 
such as standing, which any one might know, but in truth 
there are many little things which in the aggregate are es- 
sential. 



SNAP SHOOTING. 15 

Intense earnestness, quickness, firmness, the avoiding 
of diverting attractions, all help to success though any one 
may seemingly be disregarded without prejudice. 

17. No shot is counted fair unless the stock of the rifle 
remain below the elbow till the ball has been thrown. 

18. After firing, the stock of the rifle is brought down and 
held between the elbow and the hip by pressure of the 
elbow, while the shell is extracted; the muzzle is then de- 
pressed to an angle of forty-five degrees below the hori- 
zontal; the new cartridge inserted and the breech-block 
forced into place, when the muzzle is brought to its posi- 
tion above the level of the eye and the piece cocked. 

It should be a matter of discipline with all to practice 
these motions with a view to making them a habit, in 
which there is safety and quickness. 

19. The farther out on the barrel you can clasp your 
gun with your left hand, easily j the better control you will 
have over it. 

It is this advantage that tall men have over short, that 
makes them frequently better field shots. 

20. The importance of quickness of motion, cannot be 
over-estimated. There is always a tendency to follow the 
ball up with the rifle, but the first care should be to get 
the rifle to the shoulder as quickly as possible, when time 
to aim will be secured before the summit is reached, 
whereas, tardy action necessitates hurried firing. 

21. During the second of time when the ball is at the 
summit, it does not seem to have any motion, and is, con- 
sequently, the best time to hit it. 

22. Seeing the hdl\ full over the sights, means in reality 
the allowing for a little drop before the bullet gets there. 



16 SNAP SHOOTING. 

23. It is the fault of nearly all beginners to uncover too 
much of the front sight, and consequently to overshoot. 
Be careful that the front sight is well down into the rear 
when you see the object finally, and pull. 

24. The pulling of the trigger must be done without 
hesitation, but quicklv as soon as the judgment orders it. 

25. The fouling of the rifle will depend on the ammunition 
used. The author has fired as many as five hundred shots 
from a rifle without cleaning, while using cartridges of 
American make, but has not been able to shoot more than 
ten of those made by Eley Brothers, of London, before 
cleaning, and as the English cartridges cost just twice as 
much as the American, the result of the test is strongly in 
favor of the latter. 

26. As soon as burned powder begins to accumulate in 
the grooves, it tears the bullet, and accuracy is impossible; 
the digression being sometimes several inches in a ten 
yards flight. 

When bullets tear you can usually hear themJium when 
they leave the rifle. 

2 7 . The practical value in field shooting, gained by the 
mere hitting of balls thrown up perpendicularly, is not 
great, but as a preliminary j)ractice it is essential, and 
should be accomplished before other directions are given 
to the bell. 

28. With practice on the Cross Shot, and similar ones, 
comes the true benefit which is derived from this system, 
and which will perfect one in field shooting, not only with 
a shot-gun on birds, but with a rifle on running game. 

The instant the bell is thrown for the cross shot, bring 
the rifle to the shoulder as quickly as possible, take aim 



SNAP SHOOTING. 17 

and follow it, firing as you go, never stopping the motion 
to pull the trigger. 

29. The Drop Shot is, perhaps, the prettiest as an 
exhibition, because the bell is hit just when your specta- 
tors think it has gotten away from you, and is excellent 
practice. Like the cross-shot, it teaches an easy sweeping 
motion of the rifle, which is the secret of successful snap 
shooting. 

Catch the bell just full over your sights and keep it 
there while you lead it down. 

30. The "Base Ball" or Incoming Shot at a bell 
thrown at the firer by an attendant is dangerous on ac- 
count of the possible glancing of the bullets in his direc- 
tion, and as all chances of accident should be carefully 
avoided, it is better not to try it. 

31. The Trap Shot. The glass ball traps ordinarily 
used in shot-gun practice, throw glass balls too far for the 
rifle, at first, but as the bell ball is heavier are about the 
proper strength for that. 

The bell should not be thrown so as to fall at a greater 
distance than twenty -five feet, and the firer should stand 
right beside or just behind the trap. 

Quickness of motion in getting the rifle to the shoulder 
becomes a habit, if persisted in and is absolutely necessary 
to success in this shooting. 

If the learner, in beginning his practice, is sufficiently 
impressed with the importance of the quick first motion 
of getting his gun to his shoulder, the instant a mark ap- 
pears he will find the chief obstacle to hitting it removed. 
"Buck fever" means the forgetting that one has a gun in 
his hands, in the absorbing interest he takes in the game in 
sight. 



18 SNAP SHOOTING. 

The trigger should not be pulled in a hurry, and never 
till sure aim has been taken. Quick action allows deliber- 
ate aim, while tardy action prevents it. I have repeated 
the lines urging quickness of action, because too much 
stress cannot be laid on it. 

32. Balls Only should be used as flying targets. "When 
the beginner has attained some skill in snap shooting with 
a rifle, he takes justifiable pride in exhibiting it, by hitting 
all kind of things, such as cans, bottles, sticks, coins, 
pencils and stones, but it is not well to do so. 

The impression given every time the rifle is discharged, 
ought to be a true one, but when a ball passes near the 
center of an irregularly shaped object without hitting it, 
the impression given is that the aim was defective, when 
it was good. 

33. It is excellent practice, when you have become 
proficient, to see how little time it will take you to make 
a given number of hits, say twenty, not counting the 
misses as anything. 

The less misses you make, the less time you will re- 
quire. 

The Tosser should observe the instant the breech block 
is replaced after the cartridge has been inserted, and throw 
immediately without waiting for instructions . 

In order v to establish a standard of quickness it may be 
well to state that the writer has made twenty hits in one 
minute and sixteen seconds, and one hundred hits in seven 
minutes and twenty -nine seconds. 

In the first instance he made no misses, but in the second 
there were seven misses, making one hundred and seven 
shots in all; an average of about four seconds to the shot. 



SNAP SHOOTING. 19. 



USEFUL HINTS. 



Without attempting to treat the subject exhaustively, 
I will give some hints on aiming, which being taken by a 
beginner, will save him much time. 

Long practice teaches one to hold in certain positions, 
under certain circumstances, but the majority of gunners 
cannot give reasons for their doing so. 

Point Blank means aiming directly at the object with- 
out making visible allowance for depression or windage. 

When a rifle is sighted to shoot point blank a given dis- 
tance, the front sight is filed off, which acts to depress the 
line of the sights, or elevate the line of the bore, which is 
the same thing, sufficient to counteract the effect of gravity 
on the bullet. 

When firing point blank at a given distance it is natural 
to suppose, though all know to the contrary, that the bul- 
let travels in a straight line between the rifle and the 
target; or in other words, that the trajectory is flat, and 
that the line of the sights and line of the bore of the rifle 
are parallel. 

Flat trajectory is impossible, because the instant the 
bullet leaves the rifle it is under the influence of gravity, 
and in traveling an inch even is depressed by it. 

For convenience of description I. will call this elevation 
of the line of the bore The Line of Elevation. 

I shall also term that part of the circle between the 
horizontal and perpendicular above, the Upper Quad- 
rant; and that part between the horizontal and perpen- 
dicular below, the Lower Quadrant, and use the figures 



on the dial of a clock to indicate the positions of hits on 
the target. 

A gun is Canted when a perpendicular line drawn from 
the line of the sights will not intersect the line of eleva- 
tion. 

"Shooting Straight" (an expression legalized by use) 
means hitting a target at the point which is in line with 
the sights. 

When a rifle is canted, no matter how little, it will not 
shoot straight. 

Unless the contrary is stated it is always supposed that 
you are firing point blank at the range for which the rifle 
is sighted. 

A bullet projected from a rifle canted to one side, say 
the left, at right angles to the upright position, will hit 
half-past seven o'clock, because the line of elevation 
throws it to the left just as much as gravity pulls it down, 
to counteract which influence the rifle must be aimed at 
half-past one o'clock. 

If the rifle be held upside down it will shoot very low, 
because the line of elevation and gravity both act to de- 
press it. 

Held in any position between these, the two regular 
causes of deflection, gravity and elevation, will influence 
the shot; counteracting or aiding each other with mathe- 
matical precision, as they approach or depart from each 
other; in the upright position, just counteracting; in the 
inverted position aiding each other; and in the side posi- 
tion pulling down at an angle of 45 degrees. 

In shooting at point blank range horizontally, the line 
of elevation is just counteracted by gravity. 

In shooting straight up or straight down there is no 
lateral attraction to affect the course of the bullet, gravity 



SNAP SHOOTING. 21 

acting only to aid or retard its speed, consequently the 
line of eleyation will throw it off the target the full dis- 
tance. 

In shooting at any point in either the upper or lower 
quadrants, aim low; the lower as you approach either per- 
pendicular. 

The speed of a bullet diminishes as it travels, and as it 
requires much greater time to make the second than the 
first hundred yards, gravity has more time to depress it in 
that distance. 

In bending backwards to shoot, remember that the 
rifle is inverted. 

The flight of a bullet is not in a perfect curve; at first it 
travels almost straight, then curves gradually, then ab- 
ruptly, till finally when it has lost its momentum, it drops 
perpendicularly, affected only by gravity. 

If you are stationary and your target moves, aim ahead. 

If you are in motion and your target is stationary aim 
behind, because your motion is given to the bullet. 

If you and your target are both moving in the same di- 
rection at the same speed, near each other, aim at it, but 
if the distance be great, aim ahead, because your target 
keeps up its speed, while the momentum which you have 
given the bullet decreases as it travels. 

The force of wind being irregular and capricious must 
be judged from personal observation and experience, but 
remember, that like gravity, it has more time to deflect a 
bullet during its second than during its first hundred yards 
flight. 

Hold the gun firmly against your shoulder to prevent its 
kicking. 

To counteract recoil, hold yourself against it by making 
a slight movement forward as you fire. 



SNAP SHOOTING. 



The general fault in aiming, in snap shooting, is over- 
aiming. 

The front sight should always be brought well down in 
the rear sight, which is facilitated by having sufficient 
drop to the stock of the piece. 

Aim at an object going straight away from yon, as if it 
were rising. 



TARGET PRACTICE 

COMPARED WITH SNAP SHOOTING. 



The shooting at still targets, either off-hand or from a 
rest, judging windage and the elevation required, nice 
cleaning, regular loading, etc., are very scientific and good 
practice for sharp shooting, but unfit one for snap shooting. 

To be able to judge distance, windage, the height above 
or depression below the level, the speed and direction the 
object is moving, while you count one, two, three, is the 
skill which this system endeavors to teach, and which is 
solidly practical. 

To stand for one or two minutes, with the elbow resting 
on the hip, and the hand twisted in an awkward position 
underneath the trigger guard, waiting for a season of par- ■ 
tial paralysis to steady the aim, for any purposes other 
than sharp shooting, is unpractical. 

To rest, either standing or lying is more unpractical 
still. 

To be able, in spite of shaky nerves, to throw the rifle, 
bullet and all at the object in an instant, is practical. 

A good snap shot can shoot better off-hand than from a 
rest, and does not close either eye, when he aims. 



Keeping both eyes open comes unsought with practice, 
and indicates that the gun has become the servile weapon, 
which finds its way to its place between the eyes and the 
object, without demanding attention, and delivers its 
charge direct at the bidding of the master, whose both 
eyes are intently watching the course of the target. 

The brain and finger become so sympathetic that the 
firing is done almost without bidding. 



RULES 

TO GOVERN COMPETITION IN SHOOTING AT BELL 
OR GLASS BALLS WITH A RIFLE, WHEN THE 
BALLS ARE THROWN UP BY HAND PERPEN- 
DICULARLY. 

1. The standard calibre of the rifle shall be .22, and the 
standard distance fifteen feet. 

2. Rifles of .28 calibre shall be handicapped two feet, 
those of .32 calibre four feet, those of .38 calibre eight 
feet, those of .40 calibre ten feet, and those of .44 calibre 
twelve feet. 

3. The Referee, whose decision shall be final, shall take 
position on a line at right angles to that between the firer 
and tosser, opposite the tosser, and see that no balls are 
thrown inside a perpendicular to that line. In case a ball 
be hit inside the perpendicular, it shall count neither for 
nor against the firer. 

4. The Firer shall shoot at twenty balls and then retire, 
must keep the stock of his rifle below his right elbow till 
the ball is thrown* must shoot at each ball he orders or 



lose it; is responsible for the throwing of his tosser, whom 
he is at liberty to choose or change at will, and also for 
any failure to load or cock his rifle; but is entitled to 
another ball, if there be a misfire on account of a defective 
cartridge. 

5. Ties shall be shot off on time; the contestant Jutting 
the greatest number of balls in five minutes, shooting as 
he pleases, at balls thrown according to the rules, shall be 
declared winner of the tie, provided> of course, that rifles 
of the same class be used by both parties. 

TO GOVERN COMPETITION IN SHOOTING AT BELL 
OR GLASS BALLS THROWN FROM A TRAP. 

1. The same trap shall be used by all contestants, and 
shall be made to throw the balls as nearly horizontal as 
possible, and so that they shall fall about twenty-five feet 
distant, all in the same direction. 

2. Rifles of . 22 calibre are standard, and entitle the firer 
to stand three feet in rear of the trap. Firers using .28 
calibre rifles shall be handicapped to five feet back of the 
trap; those using .32 calibre, to seven feet back; those 
using .38 calibre, to eleven feet back; those using .40 cal- 
ibre, to thirteen feet back; and those using .44 calibre, to 
fifteen feet back. 

3. The Keferee's decision shall be final, and he shall 
judge, among other points, if the trap throw equally for all. 

4. The Firer shall shoot at twenty balls and then retire, 
must keep the stock of his rifle below his right elbow till 
the trap is sprung; must shoot at each ball he orders or 
lose it; is responsible for the service of his trap-puller, 
whom he is at liberty to choose or change at will, and also 
for any failure to load or cock his rifle; but is entitled to 



SNAP SHOOTING. 25 

another ball in case there is a misfire on account of a de- 
fective cartridge, or on account of the breaking of the trap. 
5. Ties shall be shot off on time; the contestant hitting 
the greatest number of balls in five minutes, shooting as 
he pleases, at balls thrown according to the rules, shall be 
declared winner of the tie; provided, of course, that rifles 
of the same class be used by both parties. 



EXHIBITION SHOTS 

AT STILL OBJECTS, AND HOW TO MAKE THEM. 

Shooting at a Bell-Ball, suspended by a wire about five feet 
in length, at a range of from thirty to fifty feet. 

1. Rifle Canted Sideways. Aim at half -past one 
o'clock, two inches off. 

2. Bjfle Upside Down over the head. Aim at twelve 
o'clock, three inches off. 

3. Mirror Shot. Stand with back to the target, rest 
the rifle on the shoulder, hold a small hand mirror back of 
the sights, and see the reflection of the target in a line 
with them. Aim at the target. This shot is difficult, 
because a change of position of the mirror has the same 
effect as moving the rifle, and steadiness of both is requi- 
site; also, movements are seemingly reversed in the glass. 

4. Snuffing a Candle. The wick must be cut by the 
bullet. 

5. Exploding Cartridges. Shoot ten holes in a plank, 
place a cartridge in each hole, and explode them in ten 
shots. This shot is very interesting, but dangerous if 
the cartridges are pushed into the holes so that the shell 
is inserted, because a resistance is made, and the shells or 
parts of them are forced back towards the firer. The end 



m SNAP SHOOTING. 



only of the bullet should be covered, and then there is no 
danger. 

6. Card Shot. Cut a hole, the size of the barrel, in 
an ordinary business card, and slide it on as far as the for- 
ward sight. In looking along the line of sights with one 
eye, the target will be obscured; but if both eyes are left 
open, there will appear to be a hole in the card through 
which the target can be seen. The reason of this is, that 
while one 'eye looks at the sights and card, the other looks 
past the card at the target, and, of the double impres- 
sions conveyed to the brain, the more distinct ones of the 
target and sights unite in one and displace the card. In 
this shot -aim a little to the left, the more, the nearer the 
target is to you, because the eyes are not focussed on the 
object, but are looking in parallel directions, consequently 
the discrepancy of aim is the distance between the eyes. 

7. The Bending Backward or "Athletic Shot" is 
very difficult for any but gymnasts, or those who have 
very limber backs. Stand with the back to the target, 
put the rifle to the shoulder as if aiming horizontally; 
bend backward till you are aiming at the target with in- 
verted rifle. Aim high, as in any shot where the rifle is 
turned barrel down. 

8. The Hip Shot is made by holding the stock of the 
rifle on the hip and judging the aim. It is very difficult, " 
but not all chance, for one can observe how his arms are 
held, and soon learn to/eel if the aim be accurate. 

9. Bending forward and Shooting- Between the Legs, 
holding the rifle Back of the Neck, and similar unusual 
shots, are good practice, and teach one to overcome ad- 
verse positions. 

10. Knocking the Ashes oef a Cigar in an attend- 
ant's mouth, or apples or potatoes from his head, are fool- 



SNAP SHOOTING. 27 

hardy shots, which are not brilliant, and only interest be- 
cause they are dangerous. No man is sure of himself, his 
cartridges, or his rifle. Nervousness, a dirty rifle, a bullet 
which does not fill the grooves, the unsteadiness of the 
attendant, or other causes of inaccuracy are within the 
range of possibility, and any danger, especially where 
another is liable to be the sufferer, should be avoided and 
discouraged by audiences. 

AT MOVING OBJECTS. 

1. Shooting at a Swinging Bell and hitting it in vari- 
ous positions. 

2. Shooting at Bells thrown up perpendicularly. 

3. Turning Shot. Stand with back to the target and 
turn and hit the bell after it is thrown. 

4. Hit Bells, holding the rifle in One Hand. 

5. Toss the Bell up yourself and hit it, using one or 
both hands. 

6. Cross Shot, Drop Shot, Incoming Shot, and Trap 
Shooting, explained in Rules for Practice. 

7. Shooting at coins thrown in the air is interesting, but 
expensive. 

SHOTS WHICH CAN ONLY BE MADE WITH A REPEAT- 
ING RIFLE. 

1. Double Shot. Hitting two objects thrown in the 
air at the same time, reloading the rifle once. 

2. Triple or Quadruple Shot. Firing into the air 
two or three times after an object has been thrown, and 
hitting it with the third or fourth bullet before it reaches 
the ground. 

3. Jump Shot. Place a light ball, either glass or wood, 
on the ground three feet in front of you. Shoot three 
inches under it, which will project it into the air. Reload 
your rifle, and hit it before it'falls. 



28 SNAP SHOOTING. 

4. Shoot as many Holes as you can in a Board, one 
foot square, which has been thrown in the air, before it 
reaches the ground. 

5. Break a Brick with one bullet, then reload, and hit 
one of the pieces. 

6. Oranges, when hit hard with a bullet from a .44 cal- 
ibre rifle, disappear in a shower of juice; or, if struck only 
lightly with the first bullet, can be hit again with a 
second before falling. 

7. In Time Shooting with a repeating rifle, balls can 
be hit as fast as they can be thrown up, one at a time, by 
one person. 

Note. — The above repeating rifle shots, and many of the 
others, were invented by Dr. Carver and successfully made 
in his various exhibitions in this country and at the Crystal 
Palace, near London. 



FEATS 

WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE 
RIFLE ON MOVING OBJECTS. - 
The records given below have not been made in matches but 
in exhibitions, but are well authenticated, and will serve 
as Standards of Excellence. 
Dr. William F. Carver, the originator of ball shooting 
with a rifle, to whom great credit is due on that account, 
has performed many remarkable feats in his exhibitions 
and one of both skill and endurance which will stand for 
them all. 

At Brooklyn Driving Park, on Saturday July 13, 1878, 
he attempted to break 5500 glass balls in 8 hours, with the 
following result, copied from the account in Forest and 
Stream, Rod and Gun: 



SNAP SHOOTING. 



OFFICIAL TIME RECORD. 



Time per Schedule Actual 

hundred. Time. Time. Ahead. Behind. 

M. S. H. M. S. H. M. S. M. S. M. S. Misses. 

100 5 05 9 05 5 05 4 00 6 

200 6 25 18 11 11 30 6 41 2 

300 7 50 27 16 19 20 7 56 5 

400 6 40 36 22 26 00 10 22 2 

500 6 20 45 27 32 20 13 07 4 

600 7 10 54 32 39 30 15 02 10 

700 5 50 1 03 38 45 20 18 18 3 

800 6 00 1 12 43 51 20 21 23 12 

900 7 00 1 21 48 58 20. 24 28 9 

1,000 8 00 1 30 54 1 06 20 24 34 10 

1,100 10 10 139 59 116 30 23 29 9 

1,200 5 50 1 49 04 1 22 20 26 44 6 

1,300 8 00 158 09 130 20 27 49 10 

1,400 10 10 2 07 15 1 40 30 26 45 9 

1,500 7 50 2 16 21 1 48 20 28 01 6 

1,600 7 50 2 25 26 156 10 29 16 13 

1,700 1110 2 34 32 2 06 20 28 12 18 

1,800 8 00 2 43 37 2 14 20 29 17 16 

1,900 8 00 2 52 42 2 22 20 30 22 23 

2,000 7 00 3 01 48 2 29 20 32 28 20 

2,100 9 00 3 10 53 2 38 20 32 33 20 

2.200 8 10 3 19 59 2 46 30 33 29 15 

2,300 10 10 3 29 04 2 56 40 32 24 11 

2,400 15 00 3 38 09 3 11 40 26 29 28 

2,500 8 30 3 47 15 3 20 10 27 05 21 

2,600 10 20 3 56 20 3 30 30 25 50 10 

2,700 10 10 4 05 26 3 40 40 24 46 5 

2,800 12 30 4 14 31 3 53 10 2121 8 

2,900 16 30 4 23 37 4 09 40 13 57 12 

3,000 10 00 4 32 43 4 19 40 13 03 21 

3,100 Z8 30* 4 41 48 4 58 10 16 22 16 

3,200 6 30 4 50 54 5 04 40 13 46 16 

3,300 7 30 4 59 59 5 1210 12 11 10 

3,400 6 30 5 09 04 5 18 40 9 36 10 

3,500 8 30 5 18 10 5 27 10 9 00 11 

* Rest of 32 minutes included. Actual breaking time, 6m. 30s. 



30 


SNAP. SHOOTING. 










Time per 


Schedule 


Actual 










hundred. 


Time. 


Time. 


Ahead. Behind. 






M. s. 


H. M. S. 


H. M. s. 


M. S. 


m. s. Misses. 


3,600 ... 


...11 30 


5 27 15 


5 38 40 




11 25 


22 


3,700 ... 


. . . 7 20 


5 36 21 


5 46 00 




9 39 


10 


3,800 ... 


. . . 9 10 


5 45 26 


5 54 10 




8 44 


22 


3,900 ... 


. . . 9 10 


5 54 31 


6 03 20 




8 49 


16 


4,000 ... 


. . . 9 20 


6 02 36 


6 12 40 




10 04 


24 


4,100 .. . 


. . . 9 00 


6 11 41 


6-21 40 




9 59 


17 


4,200 . . . 


. . . 7 30 


6 20 47 


6 29 10 




8 23 


10 


4,300 ... 


. . . 8 10 


6 29 52 


6 37 20 




7 18 


14 


4,400 . . . 


:.. 6.20 


6 38 58 


6 43 40 




4 42 


6 


4,500 . . . 


... 7 20 


6 48 03 


6 51 00 




2 57 


18 


4,600 ... 


... 8 20 


6 57 08 


7 00 20 




3 12 


19 


4,700 ... 


. . . 7 00 


7 06 14 


7 07 20 




1 06 


9 


4,800 ... 


. . . 7 00 


7 15 20 


7 14 20 


1 00 




13 


4,900 ... 


. . . 7 00 


7 24 26 


7 21 20 


3 06 




15 


5,000 ... 


. . . 7 50 


7 34 31 


7 29 10 


5 21 




16 


5,100 ... 


. .. 8 10 


7 43 36 


7 37 20 


6 16 




8 


5,200 ... 


... 6 20 


7 51 42 


7 43 40 


8 02 




18 


5,300 ... 


... 8 20 


8 00 48 


7 52 00 


8 48 




16 


5,400 ... 


... 8 00 


8 09 55 


8 00 00 


9 55 




21 


5,500 . . . 


. . . 7 30 


8 20 00 


8 07 30 


12 30 




11 


During 


Total mi 
this shoot, he used five Win 


sses .... 




712 
:ing 


Chester 


Repeal 


Rifles, weighing about ten pounds each, the 


aggregated 


weight of which, raised 6212 times, was about 


thirty - 


one 


tons. Before the 


first thousand had 


been broken, 


the 


balls of his eyes became sunb 


urned, and being further 


rri- 


tated by rubbing them with his powder- 


stained 


gloves, 


the 


pain became excruc 


iating, but he hung 


to his self-imposed 


task and 


accomplished it, and left the 


field in company 


with the 


writer, physically 


unstrainec 


. It is 


true that 


the greater number of balls 


were broken within fifteen 


feet of the end oi 


the rifle 


, but it was nevertheless a 


wonderful exhibition of skill and endurance. 







SNAP SHOOTING. 31 

The working of the levers of the rifles, which, when 
heated, are said to resist over thirty pounds pressure, with 
the middle finger of the right hand, 6212 times, was a mon- 
strous task in itself. 

In exhibiting before the Prince of Wales at Sandring- 
ham, he broke 100 balls consecutively, and successfully 
made nearly all of the various shots described here. 

John Ruth, of Oakland, California, who was a compan- 
ion of Carver during his preliminary practice, has become 
a successful exhibitor, and has taught his wife to shoot 
nearly if not quite as well as himself. At Badger's Park, 
in an exhibition, he hit the bell-ball 990 times out of 1000 
shots, as referred to previously. 

John E. Graham, of Erie, Pennsylvania, is reported to 
have made 986 hits in 1000 shots, or only 4 less than Ruth. 

George A. Meares of Salt Lake City, who is the 
champion rifleman of Utah, is enthusiastic in recommend- 
ing this method, and claims to have derived immense 
benefit from it. 

The late Major Thornburg was very successful at this 
kind of shooting, as well as perhaps hundreds of others, 
who have so practiced as to be able to hit 95 per cent, of 
balls thrown perpendicularly, but who have yet to get the 
best benefit from the various shots which are here recom- 
mended. 

The writer, after having practiced an hour each day for 
about three weeks, gave a private exhibition before nu- 
merous German army officers, members of shooting clubs, 
and others, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, in which he made 
the following scores at balls thrown in the air, besides 
successfully making the other shots spoken of: 

Ninety-nine out of 100 balls thrown up perpendicularly; 
10 Turning Shots; 10 One-handed Shots; 10 Cross Shots; 



SNAP SHOOTING. 



10 Drop Shots; 10 Incoming Shots; 17 out of 20 from a 
Bogardus trap; 19 out of 20 English Pennies. 

An English gentleman, who was spending his vacation 
in Frankfort, and who was a very indifferent shotgun shot, 
practiced under instruction at the same time, and as a 
result, before he left for home, went out several times 
with parties of the best shots in the vicinity, and bagged 
more birds than any. 



FORMING CLUBS. 

A range of 100 feet and a bulkhead 25 feet square is all 
that is required to make perfect facilities for shooting at 
reduced still, or running targets, or at balls thrown in 
any direction; and for ball shooting only, a range of 30 
feet is sufficient. 

A club of ten or twenty can build and run such a range 
anywhere, even within city limits, at a very light expense; 
or it is exceedingly profitable to run one and charge for 
the shots or ammunition, as a private enterprise. 

In this manner unlimited practice can be had at a very 
light expense. 



THE MILITARY AND SNAP SHOOTING. 

It may be offered, simply as a suggestion, that the 
method of practice recommended in the preceding pages, 
might be of service in teaching recruits to handle fire- 
arms. 

Practice in hitting moving objects inspires a confidence 
which can not be obtained in any other way, and the 
repetition of the three motions of loading, extracting, and 



aiming and tiring, habituates the learner to a free use of 
the arms and a confidence in pulling the trigger. 

In the German army they aim and snap an unloaded 
piece repeatedly as an exercise, considering the pulling of 
the trigger a necessary finish to the motion of aiming. 

Aided by a minimum expense, light report, easily- 
acquired range facilities, and a most-fascinating system, 
might not the practice be carried to firing and hitting, 
which is the desired result ? 

This need not at all interfere with the manual, but can 
be practiced as an outside exercise; and the result of 
adopting it would be felt immediately by a company, not 
only in the ease and quickening of motion and the im- 
proved markmanship, but in the increased interest it 
would create among the members. 



PRICE, TEN CENTS. 



A.B . C . 

NAP ^ 




SPORTING, EXHIBITION, AND MILITARY. 



PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 
San Francisco, 1880. 



A 



Copyright, 1880, by Horace Fletcher. 



CALIFORNIA 



PARLOR ROWING BOAT APPARATUS. 



(Patent Applied fob.) 



See Out and Price-List on Following Page. 



AS A ROWING MACHINE 

1. It teaches both arms to pull 
alike. 

2. It compels the feathering of 
the oar. 

3. The stroke is even throughout. 

4. There is no aid or resistance 
to the return. 

5. It is perfectly clean, as no oil 
should be used about it. 

6. Slots in the casting, where the 
end of the oar is made fast to the 
out-rigger, permit the lifting of the 
blades in returning. 

7. All oarsmen unite in pronounc- 
ing it a perfect teacher of rowing. 

8. Men practicing in the double 
skull or four oared pattern mttst all 
do the same work, and their coach 
can stand over them and direct 
their actions. 



AS A HEALTH TVIA. 

1. It exercises all the muscles 
of the body and strains none. 

2. It can be regulated by the set 
screws to accommodate any strength 
and size of person, and is as well 
adapted for the use of ladies and 
children as gentlemen. 

3. Its use for five minutes each 
morning, immediately after getting 
out of bed, will cure any case of 
dyspepsia, because of the easy ex- 
ercise of the muscles of the stomach, 
the improved respiration and the 
accelerated circulation of the blood. 

5. The sliding seat aids flishy 
people in taking the stroke, and for 
them is a most excellent exercise. 



It takes but little room, is clean, and fasci- 
nates all, both ladies and gentlemen, because it is 
practical in teaching a useful and graceful 
accomplishment, and at the same time inviting 
health. 

See Next Page. 



CALIFORNIA 

PARLOK BOWING BOAT APPABATTJS. 



[Patent Applied Foe 




■,d§SK5S5^5^^ 



t>^* 



^ 



_i»i*S<3 






A perfect Rowing Machine, and the New Health Pull for Ladies, 
Gentlemen and Children. 

(See preceding page for description.) 

Four Oared Pattern with Sliding Seat, for Clubs $40 00 

Double Scull Pattern with Sliding Seat, for Clubs 20 00 

Single Scull Pattern with Sliding Seat, suitable for Ladies 

and Children, as well as Oarsmen 12 00 

Juvenile, without Sliding Seat, for Children only 5 00 

Packed in pieces for shipment, readily put together. Address 
with cash, 

HORACE FLETCHER, 

Shattuck & Fletcher, 
520 Commercial St. , San Francisco, Col. 



